The National tribune., 1887-07-28
THE SIXTH MAINE.
IFS Superb GaIlantry at Rappahan-
mock Station.
DY A. E. MATTHEWS, san FRANCISCO, CAL.

AAtlN4th Nnt EL4tdllL anu VI
the fortified position at Rappahannock Station,
Va, which occurred on Nov. Z, 1863, and the
meager notice awarded by such as do mention
IL is quite unsatisfactory 10 those who wish to
know the true details of the affair. AS one in
terested in gaining information concerning the
fate of Capt. Reuel w. Furlong, of Co. ID, 9th Me-,
one of the storming party, have received ex-
ceedingly interesting accounts from several par
ticipants particularly from C. n. Drew, of Co.
X, 9th Me.,-now Commander of Corinth Post,
No. 30, GAR, Department of Oregon,-which
he has kindly permitted me to send TO IHE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE for publication.
The 9th Me. having lost heavily in the assault
upon Marye's Hights, Fredericksburg, May 3,
1SG3 and in numerous skirmishes elsewhere,
aud again at RappahannOck Station, losing two
thirds of the remnant of the regiment, few re-
main OF their numbers TO tell the story, and
often others have claimed honOrs belonging to
1t. This is apparent also in many instances
where officers are credited in histories as having
led the charge, when in reality the officers SO
named were not in the van at all, but came up
more or less in the lead OF supporting columns,
after the 9th Ne. had
FINISHED MOST OF THE FIGHTING.
c. n. Drew relates that on the morning of
Nov. z, 1863, the Army Of the Potomac, which
had been in the vicinity of WarrentOn a few
days, awaiting the repairing of the Orange &
Alexandria Railroad, broke camp at an early
hOurand marched toward Rappahannock River.
The right wing composed of the Fifth and Sixth
Corps, under the command Of Gen. Sedgwick,
was directed TO cross at Rappahannock Station.
do not think any of the rank and file and but
very few of the Tegmental officers knew the
object of the movement or where we were going.
1t was whispered, and became the general belief
before noon among the men, that We were going
into Winter quarters.
The day was one of those pleasant, sunny
days of Autumn, with the breeze Just cool enough
for hard marching, and the boys were, as al
ways, in fine spirits The grand old Virginia
forest echoed such songs as "JOhn Brown"
:" The Star Spangled Banner" and "The Bold
S0ger Boy" etc, until Capt. G. i. Witherill, of
Co. X, 9Th Me-, started the hymn Christ is our
Leader" the whole company joining in the
chorus. In few minutes the whole regiment
was singing, and the whole brigade Joined, regi-
ment after regiment.
While thus singing we filed to the right, leay-
ing the railroad, along which we had been
marching all the afternoon. In a few minutes
more we had formed line of battle and moved
through the wood TO the edge of the clear land
that borders the Rappahanuock River for miles
on each side. Co &, 9th Me-, was detailed and
deployed as skiTmishers, and advanced toward
the enemy's works at RappahannOck Station,
all in full view Of the brigade. The skirmish-
line moved across the field and
DROVE THE REBEL sHIRNIsHERs
into their breastworks, not stopping until it
got so near the enemy'S position as TO draw a
very lively fire.
Our boys then took shelter in n sunken road,
about 100 yards i'm front of and parallel with
the rebel line Of intrenchments. The Confed
crates held a fortified position on the north
bank of the river, the works consisting of a
small fort having four guns and surrounded by
deep dry ditch. Redoubts and a line of
rihe-pits running up the stream terminated at
the bank. These works were previously built
by the Union troops and formed a strong posi-
tion. At this time they were occupied by about
1000 men of Early's Division, of Ewelps Corps,
just sent over from Lees army.
While our skirmish-line was engaged Gen.
Sedgwick directed Gen. Wright, commander of
the First Division, Sixth Corps, to carry the
works by storm, and just before sunset the
storming party was formed by taking the
Third Brigade, then commanded by Brig Gen.
David A. Russell-Gen. Wright being in COM
mand of the Sixth Corps-with the First and
Second Brigades in reserve.
Gen. Russell rode in front and along the 9th
Me. line, and ordered the men to remove the
caps from their muskets, saying that only n
strong skirmish-line held those works, and he
wanted us TO take them
WITH THE BAYoNET ALONE.
After seeing the caps removed we were ordered
to advance and deploy in front of the brigade,
and there we received our final instructions
the 9th Me- to move forward on the charge,
supported by the 5th Wis. the 10th aud 10th
Pa. to advance in support of those two regi-
ments.
Then came the command Forward ?" and
we moved out on the quickstep until we drew
the rebels fire, when we got the order Double
quick-Charge :" and on we went As we
spTang out of the sunken road artillery and
| infantry opened q murderOus fire upon us,
which swept away nearly one-third of our boys.
But onward the survivors rushed, up to and
over the works into the midst of the foe, where
one Of the hardest and most heroic struggles of
the war took place.
Our onset was so fierce that the rebels gave
way and fell back under cover of the river
| bank, where they quickly reformed and charg-
/ ed upon u.s. Their force was so strong we were
| Obliged to leap back over tho trenches but we
| did not stay out long
Again some heroic soul gave the cry of For
ward !" and again over the works we rushed,
using the bayonet, clubbing the musket receiv-
| ing and giving death in all its terrible forms,
compelling the foe again 10 seek shelter. Re-
| forming, they again drove US over the works
| by weight of numbers alone, killing some of
the bravest aud best in the earnest hand-to-
hand struggle they made 10 defeat US.
But again. and this time poor private, shot
/ IN q dozen p.aces5 Stlll ngutlHS, raised the cry
Of Charge the fortl" 1t was rallying cry,
and more than half Of our boys charged it,
DROVE OUT THE GUSNERs,
and turned the guns on tho pontoon bridge
| which crossed the river above and in rear OF
the fort, thereby cutting OF the retreat of the
rebels.
But the fight was not yet ovor Seeing we
held the key to the position they surrounded
the fort calling upon us to surrender, and al
the same time keeping up murderous fire
upon our little band. Our ammunition ex.
hausted, We used the artillery Shells by lighting
the fuses and throwing them amongst the reb-
els rs they approached across the ditch 10 scale
the sides Of the fort sBayonets were removed
from our guns and hurled with terrific force
into the face of the yelling mob.
Words fail and no pen will ever describe the
desperation OF the fght-the 9th Me-, now
reduced to a mere handful Of men, many OF
them wounded and all Of them out of ammuni.
ton, in a small fort, surrounded by the rebels
still fighting with determination to conquer OF
diu and ever hoping andlistening for the joy.
full sound Of supporting columns. Some of the
officers had broken their swords early in the
combat, and picking up muskets fought on.
Empty guns, stones, Anything we could get
hold of, we hurled at the enemy, who like
pack of hungry wolves were jumping at oul
threats. The fighting was over all along the
line of earthworks excepting at the fort, and
the foe here were in retreat for the bank of thC
river when the welcome cheer of the 5th Wis
broke upon our ears and we knew that
VICTORY WAS oURs